Photos Kepharts...They just Work

Uncle Timbo said:
Love the twins there Mikael. I have to ask, are these keeper/users?
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Top is user, I'm probably going to let the other go. Don't really need 2 of them. A person collects so many knives, the last thing I need to do is start doubling up.
 
bikerector said:
I do, the LT bushcrafter Mark II. I always thought they looked mundane but I started to figure out how that blade shape makes sense. As mention, I really like the looks of clip points with trailing points being next up. I really started liking sheepsfoot and wharns for EDC even if the look is superb, it just worked better for nearly everything I used a knife for, away from a cutting board and cleaning game. But in use, it started to make sense, especially as I started doing more things with wood and practicing woodcraft.

aQe5BoXl.jpg


Edit to add, my progression through the Kephart design:
LT Bushcraft Mark II - still have
Condor Kephart - gifted away after getting BK62
Bk62
LT Bushbaby
2nd BK62 (for the boy)
LT Genesis

The condor was an okay model and I liked the thin blade but the handle was very small for me and I got bad hot spots working on a fire bundle. I already posted this but here's where I stand now, excepth the 2nd BK62 stays in the box for the little man.

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I agree with you on the sheepsfoot. I've never had one but I always thought the design was well thought out. I may have to get one of those. :)
 
Mikael W said:
Sailing is my main hobby but this also includes edged tools. I always keep a couple of stainless Mora's onboard for emergency and scraping the wood trim.
Boatcamping is big here were I live on the Swedish Eastcoast, with inumerous sheltered lagoons for easy anchoring.View attachment 1038057
The blue boat in the middle is my old 31 footer, designed by US naval architects Sparkman & Stephens and Swedish built.
S&S was the top designers in the world for 50 years.

View attachment 1038058
At sea in the Baltic and a Mora hanging in the aft of the sitting area.

Regards
Mikael
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That is one sweet sail boat. You've got it made brother!
 
I purchased the Condor version fairly quickly after it was released. I feel it is a bit small for much versatility in the woods and like the new Kabar Becker BK-62 much better. I don't recall when I first became aware of the Kephart design, but honestly I was a bit hesitant to buy one at first and unsure if I would like it. (Hence the Condor version.) I don't get things just because the BF crowd is buying them, with the exception of the BK-2. Learned a lesson on that one; it doesn't get used and I doubt I would even consider carrying it in a real SHTF situation.
 
Pilsner said:
It was through BF that I first learned about Kepharts, too. :thumbsup:
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I learned about Horace Kephart here and on another forum simultaneously by the same poster. From there the discussions quickly included Nessmuk and the Woodland Trio. All of the threads about Kephart knife repros came from that, from the Condor and BK62 to handmade customs.

I caught the bug quickly and bought a full flat grind Kephart facsimile before commissioning a period correct museum copy in progress now.
 
marchone said:
I learned about Horace Kephart here and on another forum simultaneously by the same poster. From there the discussions quickly included Nessmuk and the Woodland Trio. All of the threads about Kephart knife repros came from that, from the Condor and BK62 to handmade customs.

I caught the bug quickly and bought a full flat grind Kephart facsimile before commissioning a period correct museum copy in progress now.
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Nice! Can’t wait to see that one. :)
 
Deinos said:
Don't feel bad... this is where I learn everything knife related :D
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Being a hillbilly from WV, I THOUGHT I knew about knives, and I did. But I didn't know about the finer steel before coming to BF. Back then I was happy with an Uncle Henry or a Tree Brand stockman.
Damn this place. :)
I also learned about the Kephart here. I was privy when Becker was just thinking about producing a Kephart.
 
Uncle Timbo said:
Being a hillbilly from WV, I THOUGHT I knew about knives, and I did. But I didn't know about the finer steel before coming to BF. Back then I was happy with an Uncle Henry or a Tree Brand stockman.
Damn this place. :)
I also learned about the Kephart here. I was privy when Becker was just thinking about producing a Kephart.
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I was in pretty much the same place as you. I knew about knives but lacked much spec knowledge and it's relevance. I was content with my small knife universe as they satisfied all my needs. Frankly, if I backed the clock back to 1985, I would be pretty content with my choices back then today. That is before spending $1000's on GEC knives and more fixed blades than I could use in a lifetime.
 
22-rimfire said:
I was in pretty much the same place as you. I knew about knives but lacked much spec knowledge and it's relevance. I was content with my small knife universe as they satisfied all my needs. Frankly, if I backed the clock back to 1985, I would be pretty content with my choices back then today. That is before spending $1000's on GEC knives and more fixed blades than I could use in a lifetime.
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Amen brother. I remember when I was a, one in - one out kind of guy. While those days are over, I still don't have that big of a collection. And while I don't own a safe, mine aren't getting used like they should due to health reasons.
The main health concern is a rotator cuff procedure recently. Mine was almost a complete tear. Now physical therapy, 3 times a week for about 10 to 12 weeks. My tear was degenerative.
I hope to be ready for next spring/summer!
 
Uncle Timbo said:
Amen brother. I remember when I was a, one in - one out kind of guy. While those days are over, I still don't have that big of a collection. And while I don't own a safe, mine aren't getting used like they should due to health reasons.
The main health concern is a rotator cuff procedure recently. Mine was almost a complete tear. Now physical therapy, 3 times a week for about 10 to 12 weeks. My tear was degenerative.
I hope to be ready for next spring/summer!
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Hope the healing goes well. We need to see more picks of your knives used. Eventually, we need to make some kind of challenge for pics and use over in the swamp rat forum. Maybe again here for the Kepharts. Get some scenario pics on the screen for those of us that get tied to a computer for hours for various reasons.
 
I agree 110%. While I'm a former carpenter, I now sit at a PC with 3 monitors.
I especially want to get that InfiWeiler out and let her eat some wood.
Has anybody ever cut on an Osage tree? Well theres one on my way to work. You can always tell by the alien green Hedge Apples laying underneath them. I've seen the Hedge Apples for years but NEVER knew those to be Osage trees. I took a landscape saw and tried to get a branch. It's like cutting on a meteorite. (Like I'd know how tough they are) :eek::);)
 
Uncle Timbo said:
Not off the top of my head. I hadn't thought of any Opinels. I'll have to check out, the garden variety. :)
Are the Opinels sturdy?
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Given how inexpensive they are and given that they have wooden handles, the Opinel's have a rich tradition in user modification. Google Opinel Mods or Opinel handle carving and waste a day or three.

Its pretty easy to file an Opinel blade to a drop point and just a bit more work will modify it to a spear point (a la Kephart). I have a 10 kicking around some where that I gave that treatment to. Makes for a very stout tip, although for a folder, I prefer a drop point as a compromise.

As for Opinels being sturdy, it's a contentious topic. I find them to be toughest folders I've used in terms of a) resisting strong cutting forces, b) resisting strong lateral forces and c) remaining functional while fouled with dirt/sand. The lock will prevent the blade from closing (it's more like a strong slip joint in terms of resistance) and Opinels need some TLC to work well in wet environments. I recommend melting in floor wax or carpenters wax with a heat gun.

Also note that the Opinel handles are similar to wooden rake/axe/pick handles - that is, they get stronger as you go to bigger sizes. A strong man cutting a hard branch can break the handle of a 6 or 7, and probably an 8. I can't imagine somebody breaking the handle of a 9 or 10 unless it gets crushed. I've never seen an Opinel develop lateral play but have busted blades trying.

Lastly, the Opinel 9 and 10 are the only folders I would baton kindling with. Just leave the lock disengaged and back off when needed. The 10 in particular can stand up to light batoning quite well.
 
pinnah said:
....Its pretty easy to file an Opinel blade to a drop point and just a bit more work will modify it to a spear point (a la Kephart). I have a 10 kicking around some where that I gave that treatment to. Makes for a very stout tip, although for a folder, I prefer a drop point as a compromise.
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I don't know about "pretty easy"? To me, anything that takes more than 15 minutes goes beyond pretty easy. What kind of files do you use for such?
 
I'll have to double check the file later. It's a big 12" or 14" double cut course bastard file. I use it to flat file skis, or used to... It hogs off metal pretty fast. Then use normal 12" mill bastard for final shaping. Clean it up with wet/dry paper.

It's a one, maybe two beer job.
 
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